Gas cap attachment



April 4, 1967 A.` c. EISBRENNER 3,312,367

` GAS CAP ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. e. 1964 I N VENTOR.

ARTHUR '0. E/SBRE/VNER United States Patent O 3,312,367 GAS CAP ATTACHMENT Arthur C. Eisbrenner, Walrath Circle, North Kingsville, Ohio 44063 Filed Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,468 4 Claims. (Cl. Htl-30.5)

The present invention relates to a mechanism for preventing the loss of gas caps used on vehicles, and particularly automobiles, without interfering with the normal functioning thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means of attaching a gas cap to a filling tube or pipe which it closes which eliminates the possibility of loss of the cap when filling the vehicle tank with gas or marking the vehicle by the placing of the cap on the vehicle exterior.

Another object is to provide a gas cap attachment which enables the cap to be rotated to fasten and unfasten the same from the gas filling tube or pipe and also enables the cap to be swung away from its closed position so that gas can be introduced into the filling tube without the possibility of loss of the cap.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational View partially in section of the gas cap attachment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a p0rtion of the gas cap attachment schown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken generally along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a yfragmentary view similar to FIGURE l, but showing the gas cap in a relased or open position.

The gas cap attachment of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The attachment is adapted to be used with the gas cap commonly utilized on automobiles and is indicated by the reference numberal 12. This cap 1t) is conventionally provided with an ear 13 which extends generally normal to the fiat top of the cap when covering the open en d of a gas filling tube 1S. The present attachment includes in combination a spring retainer 26 which is generally of a fiat construction and fits fiatwise with respect to the gas cap 12. The4 spring retainer 26 is provided with wall means which define a slot 28 into which the ear 13 wedgingly interfits for holding the spring retainer in a fixed position relative to the cap. v

The gas filling tube 15 is provided with an upper portion 17 which is turned inwardly and downwardly at the top portion 16 thereof in a conventional manner to provide a locking mechanism which interts with lugs 23 which are carried on the gas cap 12`- The function, or operation, of the gas cap in combination with the gas filling tube 15 operates in a conventional manner. In other words, to secure the gas cap in position, one merely places the cap over the open end of the gas filling tube and turns it in a clockwise manner to cause the lugs 23 to interfit with the inwardly and downwardly turned top portion 16 of the gas filling tube. To release the gas cap one merely turns it in the opposite direction and lifts it from the upper open end of the gas filling 4tube 15. The gas filling tube 15 is provided in the embodiment shown herein with a conventional ridge or bump 19, which is normal in many constructions. It will be appreciated that other constructions may differ.

The spring retainer 26 is provided with a peripheral portion, seen particularly in FIGURES l, 2 and 5, which has alternately upturned portions 31 and downwardly turned portions 34. These upwardly and downwardly 3 ,3 12,3 6 7 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 ice turned portions define a generally circular guide track,' which has not been indicated by a reference numeral. A spring member 36 is provided which has a circular portion 38 which resides in the generally circular guide track and which has what has been referred to as an attaching portion 40 which extends generally laterally of the guide track. The attaching portion 40 comprises the ends of the spring member 36, which are not connected together, as best seen in FIGURE 3, and also includes a clip member 56 which is used to connect the two ends together, as will be described hereinafter.

A support member 46 is provided, which has first and second end portions 49 and 5t), respectively. The support member is located along and extends generally in the same direction as the gas filling tube 15', and the first end portion of the support member 46 is provided with a plate 51 which fits or extends generally circumferentially around the gas lling tube a limited distance. A torsion spring member 53 extends circumferentially around the gas filling tube and has a hook on either end thereof which respectively fits through and attaches to a hole in opposite ends of the plate 51. This construction serves to secure the support member 46 in the position shown in the accompanying drawings, and in this construction of the gas filling tube which has the ridge or bump 19, this construction also serves to prevent the support member from sliding up and possibly off the top of the tube 15. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that many constructions might be utilized for securely holding the support member in the position shown.

The upper or second end portion 5f) of the support member 46 is provided with a portion which extends generally laterally away from the gas filling tube and in a direction which is generally at right angles to the primary extent of the support member 46. The extreme end of the second end portion '50 terminates in what might best be described as a T-shaped portion very clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, and this T-shaped portion is larger or wider than the two extreme ends of the spring member 36, thereby assuring that with the clip member 56 in place, the spring member is prevented from becoming detached from the support member, as is apparent from a view of FIGURE 5. This construction also enables the gas cap to be tilted to what may be referred to as a disconnected, open or inactive position, whcreat an attendant in a garage, for example, may ll the vehicle tank with gasoline.

In order to utilize the gas cap attachment of the present invention, one using the device need merely place the support member 46 in position adjacent to the gas filling tube `and attach the torsion spring S3 in the manner shown in the drawings. The spring retainer 26 is attached to the gas cap by wedging the ear 13 into the slot 28 and thereafter placing the spring member 36 in the position shown in the guideway, formed by the upturned and downturned portions 31 and 34. The extreme ends of the spring member 36, at what has been referred to as the attaching portion 40, are brought together around the second end Sti of the support member and are secured in the position shown by means of the clip member 56. The gas cap can then be attached to the top of the gas filling tube 15 by moving it into the position shown in FIGURE l and turning it in a conventional manner. This turning or rotative movement is permitted because the cap and vretainer will rotate relative to the circular portion 38 of the spring member 36. To remove the cap, the reverse procedure is utilized and the cap is swung from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. Escape of the gas cap and spring member 36 is prevented because of the T-shaped construction of the second end 5t) of the support member and i convenience or obstruction to the filling of the tank with gas. It contributes several advantages, among which are the fact that there is no possibility lof losing a gas cap because of the carelessness or inattentiveness of the gas station attendant, and additionally the possibility of the marking or marring or the exterior finish of a vehicle by placing the cap thereon while the vehicle tank is being lled with gas is also obviated.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for an automobile gas cap having an ear, which gas cap closes the open end of a gas filling tube, including in combination a spring retainer having a Wall means defining a slot wedgingly interiitting with the ear on the gas cap yfor holding the same in fixed position relative thereto, said spring retainer having a peripheral portion with alternately upturned and downturned portions defining a generally circular guide trace, a spring member having a circular portion residing in said circular guide track and having an attaching portion extending laterally of said guide track, a support member having first and second end portions, said support member extending in the same general direction as the gas filling tube and having said first end portion in engagement therewith, a spring extending around the gas filling tube Vand secured at either end to said first end portion of said support member to hold the same in a fixed position, a clip member connecting said attaching portion of said spring member to said second end portion of said support member thereby mounting said gas cap for swinging movement to an open position relative to the gas illing tube when rotatably released therefrom.

2. An attachment for an automobile gas cap having an ear, which gas cap closes the open end of a gas filling tube, including Vin combination a spring retainer having a wall means defining a slot wedgingly interiitting with the ear on the gas cap for holding the same in fixed position relative thereto, said spring retainer having a peripheral portion with a generally circular guide track, a spring member having a circular portion residing in said circular guide track and having an attaching portion extending laterally of said guide track, a support member having first and second end portions, said support member extending in the same general direction as the gas filling tube and having said first end portion in engagement therewith, means for holding said first end portion of said support member to the gas filling tube, a member connecting said attaching portion of said spring member to said second end portion of said support member thereby mounting said gas cap for swinging movement to an open position relative to the gas filling tube when rotatably released therefrom.

3. An attachment for a gas cap having an ear, which gas cap closes the open end of a gas filling tube, including in combination a spring retainer having a wall means defining a slot wedgingly interfitting with the ear on the gas cap for holding the same in fixed position relative thereto, said spring retainer having a peripheral portion with a generally circular guide track, a spring member having a circular portion residing in said circular guide track and having an attaching portion extending laterally of said guide track, a support member having rst and second end portions, means connecting said first end portion of said support member to the gas filling tube, means connecting said attaching portion of said spring member to said second end portion of said support member thereby mounting said gas cap for swinging movement to an open position relative to the gas filling tube when rotatably released therefrom.

4. An attachment for a gas cap which closes the open end of a gas iilling tube, including in COmbinatiOn a retainer secured to said gas cap and having a peripheral portion with a guide track, a member residing in said guide track and having an attaching portion extending laterally of said guide track, said retainer and member being capable of relative rotative movement, a support member secured to said tube and means connecting said attaching portion to said support member thereby mounting said gas cap for swinging movement to an open position relative to the gas filling tube when rotatably released therefrom.

iNo references cited.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T, HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

4. AN ATTACHMENT FOR A GAS CAP WHICH CLOSES THE OPEN END OF A GAS FILLING TUBE, INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A RETAINER SECURED TO SAID GAS CAP AND HAVING A PERIPHERAL PORTION WITH A GUIDE TRACK, A MEMBER RESIDING IN SAID GUIDE TRACK AND HAVING AN ATTACHING PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY OF SAID GUIDE TRACK, SAID RETAINER AND MEMBER BEING CAPABLE OF RELATIVE ROTATIVE MOVEMENT, A SUPPORT MEMBER SECURED TO SAID TUBE AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID ATTACHING PORTION TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER THEREBY MOUNTING SAID GAS CAP FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT TO AN OPEN POSITION RELATIVE TO THE GAS FILLING TUBE WHEN ROTATABLY RELEASED THEREFROM. 